Love Hurts

Four

If you so happened to miss the video in the other chapters here it is again.

Hoss,

Jasmine asked me if I was interested in Camilla as we made our way to the dance floor. I wasn't sure, as she was nothing like Sam. Jasmine told me that I had to make a decision - either I was in or I was out. She believed that Camilla had a questionable past and warned me about it. I asked Jasmine why she was telling me all this, and I mentioned that I had just danced with Camilla and enjoyed getting under her skin. Jasmine advised me to stop trying to provoke Camilla and actually get to know her, as she was a good person. I jokingly mentioned that I thought Jasmine had a thing for me, but she clarified that she had moved on and valued our friendship too much to risk it. Jasmine asked me what I had said to Camilla at the hospital that made her dislike me, and I admitted that I had called her a bitch. Jasmine was shocked by my bluntness, but I defended myself by saying that sometimes the truth hurts. We returned to the table and laughed about a drunk guy who had tried to hit on Jasmine while she was dancing with someone else. I sat back down next to Camilla and casually put my arm on the back of her seat, to my surprise, she didn't remove it. We spent the next hour talking, laughing, and getting to know each other. I realized that Camilla wasn't as cold as I had initially thought, and she admitted that I wasn't who she had expected either. The next day, I received a text from Berry asking how it went when I took Camilla home. I replied that I had taken Camilla, Jasmine, and Stella to Camilla's house and then went home. Berry seemed disappointed and suggested that I might have had a chance with Camilla if the other girls weren't around. I called him out on his double standards and mentioned that I would ask Olivia about his behavior. Berry quickly changed the subject and informed me that he had just dropped Olivia off at Camilla's to get her car. We exchanged a few more playful texts before Berry mentioned that he was heading to work and we could continue our conversation later. Just as I was about to leave for our morning meeting, Chief Jones called me into his office. I wondered what I had done wrong this time. Chief Jones expressed his frustration that he still hadn't received a report on the shooting I was involved in three weeks ago. I clarified that it was actually Officer Berry who was involved in the shooting and that he had given the report. Chief Jones seemed confused but didn't press further. He told me to get back to work and not mention our conversation to anyone. I assured him that I wouldn't. As I left Chief Jones' office, I ran into Berry and asked him where he was heading. He reminded me that we had a meeting and laughed at my forgetfulness. He asked me what I had done this time, and I replied that I hadn't done anything wrong that Chief mistaken me for a different officer on a case and thought the report wasn't turned in but I corrected him.    
  "It's unusual for Chief to forget anything, but things happen. Speaking of things happening, Olivia wants to know if you want to come over for dinner tonight. She mentioned that Camilla will also be there."
     "Count me in. Let her know I'll be there."
      I let my dog out of his pen after our meeting. It took over an hour, so I'm sure Mr. Spaghetti is ready to run.
      "Alright, buddy, are you ready to patrol the city?"
     Mr. Spaghetti tilts his head, indicating that he's been ready fool.
     "Okay, cool it with the attitude, bro. It's not my fault we had a meeting and you couldn't come. But I'm here to make it up to you, so let's head out."
     Mr. Spaghetti sticks his tongue out and runs to the door, waiting for me so we can go to the car. This dog has his life all figured out.
     We're doing our rounds when I see a car coming out of a rough neighborhood, so I decide to run the license plate. Turns out, the car is reported stolen.
     I better call this in, Mr. Spaghetti. What do you think? Should we follow the suspect?
     Woof!
     "Dispatch, this is Officer Moore."
     "Go ahead, Officer Moore."
     "I have a 10851. I'm in pursuit and requesting backup."
     "10-4, Officer Moore. Backup is on the way."
     "Alright, buddy, are you ready to start our day off right?"
     Sounding my siren, I follow the suspect to the nearest pull-off. Well, that was easy. I thought the suspect would try to flee. Leaving the door open, I step out of the car just in case my partner needs to jump out quickly. I approach the car with my gun raised. No matter how many times I stop someone, this part is always the hardest - the not knowing.
    "Driver! Open your window and slowly put your hands out."
    One, two, three.
    "Driver, I'll ask you one last time to put your window down and put your hands out slowly."
     The driver finally puts the window down, but before I know it, more than just his hands come out. He starts firing at me with a .380.
      pop, pop, pop
      I make it back to my cruiser without a scratch and return fire, hitting the driver in the arm and causing him to drop the weapon. That's when my partner gets to work on the suspect. Mr. Spaghetti jumps into the driver's window and onto the man's lap, growling at him.
      Once I reach the window, the suspect yells at me to get my damn dog off him.
      I just stand there for a few minutes, watching Mr. Spaghetti do his thing. The suspect asks me again to get Mr. Spaghetti off him, and I command him to stand down. Then I drag the suspect out of the car through the window.
     When backup arrives, it's all over. I call in my report and head back to the station.
      Buddy, I owe you a big, juicy burger for that one.
     "If you hadn't shot me in the arm, that bitch wouldn't have gotten that close to me," the suspect says.
     "Shut the hell up back there. You're lucky I shot you in the damn arm and not somewhere else," I reply.
     "Ha, more like your little girlfriend was lucky so she could come and save the day and look like a hero."
      Is it petty that I want to correct him by telling him that my dog is a male, not a female?
      I believe Mr. Spaghetti is informing him throughout the entire ride to the station. He growls at him in a low voice that scares me. Once we arrive at the station, I take the suspect out of the car and put him in a cell. Then I start working on my paperwork, which takes about 30 minutes because I can't stop laughing about Mr. Spaghetti. That dog always keeps things interesting.
     Don walks by my desk and compliments me on the arrest. I thank him and he asks if Spaghetti and I are heading back out. I confirm that we are about to leave. It has been a busy day with three drug busts, which is my partner's favorite. By the end of our shift, we have arrested five people. Now it's time to go to the store and get a bottle of wine for my friend's house. Hopefully, my next interaction with Ms. Rose will be as good as it was at the bar last night.
     I arrive at Berry and Olivia's door at the same time as Camilla. She is wearing jeans and a blue blouse that accentuates her curves. I can't help but stare at her. She is incredibly beautiful, and what makes her even more attractive is that she doesn't even realize it. After a moment, she greets me with a hello, probably wondering why I'm acting strange. I respond with a hello of my own and mention how unexpected it is to see her here.
       Camilla raises an eyebrow at me and questions if this is a setup. I assure her that it is, and I am willing to play along. She smiles and asks if that's a fact. I confidently confirm that it is indeed a fact.
      Olivia asks me with a smile if we're just going to stand there staring at each other or if we're going to come in and share the bottle of wine. The girls head into the kitchen while I find Berry in the living room watching a game on the flat screen.
       "Yo, bro, I thought you forgot about us," Berry says.
       "Can't help your ass. Was lazy today and didn't catch one bad guy. I had to do all the arresting," I tease him.
       "Hey, I did my fair share of arrests today. I just get my reports done faster than you do," Berry deadpans, clearly pouting because I'm cooler than him.
       I sit down on the couch across from Berry's chair and start watching the game with him. Before we know it, the girls are calling us in for dinner. The smell of roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cornbread fills the air. There goes my 45-minute workout this morning.
      The dinner looks heavenly, and I sit across from Camilla while my two friends sit at the head of the table. While she's eating, I catch myself watching her, but I also notice her watching me when she thinks I'm not looking.
      "So, Camilla, where did you grow up?" Berry asks her.
       "South Carolina," she replies.
       "No shit? Why did you move to Florida?" Berry asks, earning a stern look from Olivia.
       "I needed a change," Camilla says, not looking up from her plate.
        It's clear that Camilla doesn't want to talk about why she's here, so I decide to change the subject.
       "So... Camilla, do you plan on getting a couple of horses for that property you own now?" I ask her.
       I could be reading into it more than I should, but I could have sworn Camilla exhaled the breath she was holding.
       "Yes, I think I'm going to get a couple of horses and about a dozen cows," she responds.
       "Oh, that would be wonderful! Once you do, we can go horseback riding," Olivia says. "Although I love riding, my amazing husband doesn't share my passion for horses."
       "Horses don't bother me; I just rather not be on one," Berry adds.
       I snicker under my breath and earn a kick to the leg from Berry.
       "Okay, hot shot, let's see you get on an animal that's 2500 pounds bigger than you are and see how well you do," Berry says, looking at me.
        "We're not talking about me not liking horses. Your wife was talking about you," I reply.
        "Sounds like he's scared too, Berry," Camilla says, smiling in my direction. I can't help but give in to my 2-year-old self and stick my tongue out at her.
         After finishing dinner, the girls take care of cleaning up the kitchen. We all decide to bring the bottle of wine outside to the front porch and have a chat for a couple of hours. I end up sitting next to Camilla and I can't help but notice the sweet scent of her body wash. It's a combination of vanilla and roses, and it takes all my willpower not to lean in and smell her or kiss her beautiful neck. I feel a sense of victory when she leans back and allows my arm to stay on the back of the swing we're sitting on. She doesn't seem to realize that she's moving closer to me, but I'm definitely not complaining.
      "Do you want another glass of wine?" I ask her.
       "No, thank you," she replies shyly, smiling at me. She lays her head back, so we're face to face. "Hi!"
       "Hi! So how is Mr. Spaghetti doing these days?" She inquire.
       "He's doing great. He's overdue to come see the kids at the hospital. Maybe we can swing by there sometime next week? And then maybe you and I could grab a bite to eat?" I suggests.
      "Yes, I think that's a great idea," She respond. I glance over and notice two pairs of eyes staring at us.
       "What?" I mouth silently.
       Olivia and Berry shrug their shoulders.
       "I think we have some ice cream in the house. Would you two like some dessert?" Olivia asks.
        "Yes, that sounds wonderful," Camilla says.
        "Great! Berry, come help me with the dessert," Olivia commands.
        "They should really work on being more subtle," Camilla comment, laughing.
        "Yeah, we're not in high school anymore. So, I'm just going to be real right now. I'm trying really hard not to kiss the hell out of you," I confess. I see a mix of shock and pleading in her eyes. I reach over and gently grab her chin, kissing her softly at first. I run my tongue along the seam of her mouth, inviting her to open up to me. We lose track of time as we passionately kiss each other. Camilla lets out a small squeak when we hear someone clearing their throat, and she quickly moves away from me, embarrassed.
      "Damn it," I curse myself internally.
       Camilla stands up. "Thank you for the lovely evening, but I think it's best if I go home now."
       "But you haven't even eaten your ice cream," I say, pleadingly, surprised by my own words. Why do I care if she stays or goes?
       Camilla sits back down and starts eating the ice cream Olivia handed her.
      "Thank you," she tells Olivia. "This is delicious. What kind is it?"
       "Blue Bell, is there any other kind?" Olivia replies.
       "No, I don't think there is," Camilla says with a laugh.
       We finish our ice cream and have one more glass of wine. I walk Camilla to her truck, and I convince her to let me follow her home just to make sure she gets there safely.
      On my way to Camilla's, I receive a message from Berry.
      Berry: "Get you some, boy."
      I shake my head and smile.
      Once we arrive at Camilla's house, I park my car behind her truck. I sit there for a moment, watching her, before finally getting out and making my way towards her vehicle. There's this strange attraction I feel towards her, and it's unsettling because no other girl has captivated me so quickly and intensely since Sam. I'm not sure if I'm ready for a relationship at this point.

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@Crystal Steadman